Rob Gronkowski is coming to WWE a lot sooner than you think.
According to a new report from The Wrap‘s Tony Maglio, “Gronk” is signed and set to debut on WWE SmackDown next Friday. It was noted that Gronk is also scheduled to appear at WrestleMania 36 to build towards a future match, meaning Gronk wouldn’t be wrestling in Tampa.
Ryan Satin first reported the former New England Patriot was in talks to finalize a deal with the company last night on WWE Backstage; WWE declined to comment on Gronkowski’s status to TheWrap.
Related: Rob Gronkowski Close To Signing With WWE
Gronkowski made a previous appearance on WWE programming at WrestleMania 33 in Orlando when he helped his friend Mojo Rawley win that year’s Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal. Now retired from football, he’s been linked with potentially coming to WWE to wrestle for several years. Triple H has already invited him to this year’s Summerslam in Boston, with Rawley also pitching a match idea for the pair at the big summer event.
During a press conference in August 2019, Gronk said he doesn’t see himself working full-time but remained open to the idea of a match “down the road.”
“I don’t feel like I would be a full-time wrestler, but there is one thing I’m down for, and that’s to do like one crazy match. Like practice it for a little bit, and go in, like during a Royal Rumble. I got my friend in WWE. Do a full-on WWE match.
I’m not saying when, maybe like five years. I got the rest of my life to do that. I’m saying I’ve always dreamed about doing that, just one time, going in there and just going full out. That may be a possibility, like one time down the road.”
WWE SmackDown is in New Orleans on March 20.
Read More: Triple H Visits Rob Gronkowski’s Beach Party, Invites Him To SummerSlam
